Strong substitute ... Ian Bell (right) is one of the prime contenders to replace Jonathan Trott (left) as England's number three for the second Ashes Test in Adelaide.

AAP: Theron Kirkman, file photo

England number five batsman Ian Bell, man of the match from his team's Ashes triumph in August, faces a possible switch to number three for the second Test in Adelaide starting on Thursday.

England batting coach Graham Gooch said on Monday that Bell and number six Joe Root were under strong consideration to take on the number three role following Jonathan Trott's withdrawal from the rest of the series with a stress-related illness.

"I'm not a believer in you've got to be very careful about looking after people in what number they bat," Gooch told a news conference at Adelaide Oval.

"If you're asked to bat three, four, five or six, you have to do that job. I'm sure both of them will want that challenge if they're asked."

The move is a risk for England on several fronts.

Whoever moves up to number three, and it's probably fair to say Joe Root and Ian Bell are the two candidates, I'm sure they'll stand up for England.

Graham Gooch

The seasoned Bell cracked three hundreds in the 2013 Ashes series in the UK in the middle order.

Root has been shunted around various positions including opener and number six in his 12 Tests.

The 22-year-old would face a major upheaval to move three spots up the order to number three for the second Test in Adelaide.

"When you start off with a team plan you like to stick with that all the way through," Gooch said.

"If these things come along, someone's got to move and do the job.

"Whoever moves up to number three, and it's probably fair to say Joe Root and Ian Bell are the two candidates, I'm sure they'll stand up for England.

"That's what they've got to do."

Bell and Root have both said following England's first-innings loss to a Chairman's XI side in Alice Springs on Saturday they are mentally prepared to take on the number three role if required.

"I've only really been playing for a year and as a young lad you have to find your feet in the international arena," Root says.

"There have been different obstacles to overcome and I just want to improve as a player."